Chilean Alfajores are traditional sweet cookies. They are made at home for celebrations ( Fiestas Patrias) or Christmas and bought at bakeries the rest of the year unless there is a big family event like a baptism or graduation. At these parties, offering small pastries, including Alfajores, is customary.
The dough recipe is a family heirloom; my great-aunt taught me how to do it. She was also in charge of our family's famous Thousand Layer Cake.
When I crave them but have no time, I stick two water crackers with dulce de leche and imagine I'm eating alfajores, a classic from college. Our poor man alfajores if you wish.
What are Alfajores made of and filled with?
Great question, and it depends. Alfajores are cookies filled with something, and like many recipes introduced by the Spaniards, they have gotten different variations throughout Latin America with time.
They are most popular in South America, especially in Chile, Peru, and Argentina.
In Peru and Argentina, the most common variation of Alfajor is the recipe: a melt-in-your-mouth cornstarch cookie filled with dulce de leche.
In Chile, alfajor is a cookie made with a crunchy dough (Hojarasca) made with egg yolks and flour and filled with dulce de leche; you can also try this other traditional filling with molasses Alfajores Atoradores.
In Argentina and Chile, Alfajores Mendocinos are also very popular. I included a recipe in my book, The Chilean Kitchen (Amazon affiliate link). You can also see a recipe here: Chocolate Alfajores, similar to the commercial ones Alfajores Havanna (Amazon affiliate link).
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Chilean Alfajores
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 35
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Chilean
Description
Alfajores, Chilean Recipe are a traditional sweet in Chile, filled with dulce de leche or Huevo Mol.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour, sifted
- 3 egg yolks
- 5 tablespoons of milk (whole or 2%)
- 1 teaspoon of vinegar (apple or white)
- 1 tablespoon melted unsalted butter
- Dulce de Leche to fill
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F or 180C.
- Put flour in a large bowl.
- Add the egg yolks and work with a fork or your hands to form crumbs.
- Add the milk, vinegar, and melted butter.
- Form a dough, add water if necessary, one teaspoon at a time.
- Knead to a smooth dough, about 10 minutes.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and let it rest, refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
- Roll thin and cut the Alfajores, prick with a fork.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
- Fill with the Dulce de Leche once they are cool.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 alfajor
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 9.6 g
- Sodium: 26.3 mg
- Fat: 2.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 16.1 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 2.3 g
Tips for great Chilean Alfajores:
What is the most important thing for the alfajores to be delicious?
The kneading by hand for 10 minutes and with a machine for at least 5 minutes, the dough should be smooth and sound (crack) when folded.
What manjar do you recommend?
I like the Colun or the artisanal one from Playa Venado in Chile. It's terrific. I preferred the La Lechera brand, canned in the USA and made in Chile. Do not use Argentinian Dulce de Leche or Cajeta. They have different flavor profiles.
Can I remove or replace the vinegar?
It can be replaced with orange juice or alcohol (brandy or pisco). The idea is to prevent the flour from forming gluten so that the alfajores are crispy and not chewy. The acid and alcohol help, so I don't recommend omitting this ingredient.
What can I do so the circles do not deform or shrink when cutting and handling them?
I recommend rolling the dough directly on the baking sheet (cookie sheets work great for this) with a bit of flour. Cut and prick the almonds and go straight to the oven. You can also roll them on silicone mats and then move them with the mat onto the baking sheet. This way, you avoid having to lift the circles.
My dough is dry. Can I add milk or water?
Occasionally, if you live in an arid climate or the egg yolks are too small, they will lack liquid to hold the dough together. Add one teaspoon of milk or water until you can unite and knead it.
You may also like the recipe: Chilenitos.
Laura says
Hi, I need a student friendly recipe. My son and his friends need an easy recipe from Chile. It is for a school project they have to make & sell for a school fund raiser. I am hoping for a chlean inspired hot chocolate or sometype of recipe thay can be made in a slow cooler or crock pot and be easily served in a cup or bowl. I would appreciate any recommendations.
Thank you on advance.
Pilar Hernandez says
Hi Laura.
I can tell you that any recipe with chocolate is not Chilean, our weather is not tropical. Cacao can't grow in Chile. Squash and beans are very traditional.
Maybe a soup like https://www.enmicocinahoy.cl/cream-beans-soup/
Or https://www.enmicocinahoy.cl/chilean-sopaipillas/ or https://www.enmicocinahoy.cl/green-beans-patties/
More to explore https://www.enmicocinahoy.cl/chilean-recipes/
Good luck.
Laura says
Thank you, I did do many, many google, youtube & pinteset searches for a flavorful drink or some type atole, like arroz con leche with a Chilean twist. Due to the delayed onset of fall here in South Texas, I did want something warm. But I will definately have my son and his peers consider one of your suggestions.
Your help is most appreciated!!!
Ingrid says
Hi! What type of vinegar? Could it be Apple Cider Vinegar? I live in Bangkok, not sure if I can find all types
Pilar Hernandez says
Apple Cider Vinegar is perfect. If not available you can replace for orange juice.
Angie says
Do you use salted or unsalted butter? Thanks!
Pilar Hernandez says
Any, I usually prefer unsalted.
Caitlyn Miller says
Hola! I am planning on making these yummy looking treats for my boyfriend who is from Santiago Chile.
How thin/thick should I make the dough once rolled out? Also would I be able to use different cutters for the shapes of the Alfajores?
*side note: how long does store bought manjar last?*
Amor, Caitlyn
Pilar Hernandez says
Hi Caitlyn,
Roll the dough as thin as possible, 2-3 mm. You can use different shapes but stick to basic ones, because they will blurry after baked.
The store bought manjar last almost forever if still seal on a can. If open I put it in a jar in the fridge, so it doesn't dry out.
Good luck,
Caitlyn Miller says
OK great thank you so much!!!! And thank you very much for posting this recipe!! can't wait to try it out!!
ashley says
Hi, so i was going to make these for my english class due to a project and was wondering if the dough HAS to be refrigerated for 2 days? because my project is due tomorrow. Thank you.
Pilar Hernandez says
Is better, but you could manage to refrigerated overnight only. Good luck.